Was this completely idiotic of me?

[FrannyandZooey]

Yesterday I did an activity for a group of toddlers which involved blowing through a straw into a tray of soapy water, to make bubbles. The group was aged between 1 and 4. Each child that tried it was supervised by their parent and me, and I asked them all "Can you blow through a straw?" and "Don't suck, will you, it's not for drinking?"

Every single child that tried it, except my ds, sucked and got a mouthful of fairy liquid. One boy vomited and had to go home.

I had tested it at home on ds (2.9), who, obviously, was misleadingly gifted at straw blowing. I wasn't expecting the younger ones to manage it, but it was up to their parents to decide whether they were old enough to have a go (there were lots of other activities on offer). I am sure I have done this before at a nursery with 3 year olds. Where did I go wrong, and would you be cross if it was your child who got a mouthful?

I'd have toought a few of them would have managed.
Wouldn't be cross though.

I wouldn't be cross, and like you say the parents were there too so they obviously thought their child would prob have been ok at trying to blow through the straw. I shouldn't worry about it. LOL at your misleadingly gifted ds!

At least they would learn very quickly never ever to suck it again!

Wouldn't be cross probably in a sick and twisted way i would find it funny

Starnge wouldve expected a few of the older ones to know what to do. And no i woundn't have been cross, dont know till you try these things huh

lol
I would have found it hilarious!

Some of the older ones did manage it, but every single one then sucked after having successfully blown. And mrspitt, you would think so, wouldn't you, but at least one came back for another go and did it again.

I am not sure if anyone found it that funny, especially the mother of the boy who was sick.

If my kid had been sick,I swear I would have laughed even more!

You would have loved the next bit moondog - the poor mum whose boy was sick went to get a bucket of bleach and water and accidentally knocked it all over my ds.

Hmm. Actually. Do you think it was really an accident?

I wouldn't be cross, actually I did the same thing in a science class once and got a mouthful of nasty chemicals--I was twelve(!).

I think I would have been livid - with the mother who knocked the bleach all over your DS! I hate bleach being used in front of kids, let alone your DS ending up wearing it.

As for the straw thing incidentally, no, I would have laughed . I would have also realised that my DS wouldn't have been able to do it and gone and done something else!

If you do spill bleach on yourself - make sure you really wash it off properly with lots & lots of running water - it's nasty stuff if it penetrates the skin.

Erm, whizz, would you care to elaborate?

Actually, perhaps, don't.

We do an activity like this at pre-school, and we always hold the straw, and as soon as we see the liquid seeping up, we squeeze it...
and yes... we've not been quick enough and had a kid being sick before.. but we had to clear it up[horror]

lol sorry but thats really funny, I think I would have laughed after I had gotton over the vomit

Not funny about the bleach though

it's not you... it's them!
we used to do this at playgroup with PAINT! don't recall it being a problem

I would have laughed too tbh - even if it was my ds who was sick!

If you put a hole (pin prick or small hole made with scissors) about 2/3 inches down they can still blow - but they won't swallow anything if they suck

Thanks katymac and rummum - you see, I should have consulted Mumsnet first as usual...